Delaware sees record sports betting surge in September, driven by NFL season kickoff

Delaware's sports betting market posted record-breaking handle and revenue in September, as per the Delaware Lottery's latest report. The hike in wagering activity is credited to the NFL season kickoff, which took place early last month.

In September, Delaware's total handle amounted to $23.2 million, which was more than the total bets in July and August combined. Revenue in the month, which stood at $4.1 million, driven by a solid 20.1% hold, was also an all-time high.

Online sports betting accounted for the lion's share of the total handle, with $19 million in bets. All of those bets were placed through BetRivers, which is the state's exclusive operator on the mobile front.

As for the state's three land-based casinos, Delaware Park led the market in terms of handle, seeing $13 million in bets last month. It was followed by Harrington, at $4 million, and Bally's Dover, with a $2.1 million handle. A further $4.2 million was placed with retailers.

The heavy September betting activity translated to a revenue increase of 202.7% year-over-year, overshadowing the $1.5 million from September 2023. Through the first nine months of 2024, the state has already more than doubled the $65.3 million handle posted in the entire calendar year in 2023, with $136.9 million with of wagers accepted thus far.

The hike in betting activity is largely attributed to the return of professional football, which traditionally commands the wagering market in the United States. The American Gaming Association (AGA) expects $35 billion to be wagered on the NFL this season, up from $26.7 million last year.